The Philadelphia 76ers spent the previous 12 months positioning themselves to signal Paul George. The concept was to offer themselves a three-star core with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey that might not solely match effectively collectively as a gaggle, however would supply a little bit of insurance coverage towards future accidents. Properly, the common season hasn’t even began but and an harm has already occurred. On Monday, the 76ers confronted the Atlanta Hawks in a preseason sport, George’s second to date in Philadelphia. Within the second quarter, although, George exited the sport after struggling a knee harm.
He was defending Jalen Johnson within the paint when Johnson gave him slightly push to the chest. He misplaced the ball in doing so, although, and as George reacted, he fell to the bottom in ache. He was rapidly dominated out for the night time. The preliminary prognosis was a hyperextended knee. On Tuesday, the 76ers mentioned that George has a bone bruise in his left knee with no structural injury and might be re-evaluated in roughly one week.
Head coach Nick Nurse famous after the sport that the crew was “making an attempt to work him into issues, and he desires to work into issues too. So this does not give him an opportunity to do this. Hopefully it will be OK so he is again with us straight away.” The prognosis on such an harm can range relying on its severity, however it’s attainable that George will now miss the start of the season. The 76ers open their season subsequent Wednesday (Oct. 23) towards the Bucks.
George has a prolonged historical past of accidents. He most notably suffered a compound fracture in his proper leg whereas taking part in for Group USA in 2014, however he has additionally handled minor, nagging accidents lately. Whereas he solely missed eight video games final season, he missed 113 regular-season video games within the 4 prior seasons mixed. At 34, accidents are going to be a worry for George transferring ahead.
Philadelphia seemingly plans to handle accidents cautiously this season. Earlier Monday, Embiid guessed that he “would most likely by no means play back-to-backs the remainder of my profession.” Philadelphia’s objective is to be wholesome in April, not October, so the crew will doubtless handle George as fastidiously as attainable.
